I strongly believe in paying people for their hard work. That’s why I refuse to use pirated software on any of the computers I use, as a matter of principle.
First, some relevant backstory: My Uncle who used to live in Hawaii came over to the Philippines to live with us a few years ago. He moved in with a lot of his own stuff, including his computer. Here’s the wrinkle in the cloth. He paid for a genuine copy of Windows XP, like any other good guy out there (he passed away last year, sadly; I have since been maintaining his computer for family use), and all was good and dandy in our computing world. Just very recently, I suppose, Microsoft decided to do this:
So. According to Microsoft, you can’t use a genuine copy of Windows XP, legally purchased, if the software is used in a DIFFERENT COUNTRY from where it was purchased. REALLY, Microsoft?
I see this as a huge, HUGE problem.
- What if the person migrates and takes his computer with him? Does that invalidate the legality of his software purchase if nowhere on the packaging did it CLEARLY say he couldn’t use it anywhere other than the country he purchased it in? Isn’t this a perfect example of a deceptive business practice?
- What if the person is on a vacation (extended or otherwise)? Does this also make it illegal for him to use his legally purchased operating system where he goes?
The computer has worked fine for years, without any warning that this might happen. It’s only been this week, I suppose, after installing the latest updates, that this new “feature” crept in. This is some really sneaky, deceptive stunt that Microsoft is pulling on their paying customers, and I think it is wrong. It’s infuriating!
I have always recommended to my family and friends that they purchase the software they use (unless it’s free in the first place, of course), and whenever I’ve assembled PCs for family and they wanted Windows, we’d always purchase a legal copy. I am incredibly disappointed with this development.
So even though I’ve had nothing but praise for the upcoming Windows 7, I’ve suddenly had a change of heart. No matter how good it is, if Microsoft continues to shaft people who are willing to play by their rules by changing the rules even further, I will no longer recommend it to people. I used to think Win7 would convince me to go back to Windows after the disaster that was Vista. Now the only reason I see for using Windows 7 is if you’re a hardcore gamer or you have a critical app that WINE can’t run yet.
Ugh. Just when I thought Microsoft was starting to do good again, they pull something like this.
Microsoft = Rape.
